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Moanalua, He Wahi Pana
The 38th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival

Hālau Hula Line-Up

Moanalua Gardens Foundation is pleased to announce the performance schedule for Moanalua, He Wahi Pana…Moanalua, A Sacred Place, the 38th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival, taking place on Saturday, July 18 from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday, July 19 from 10 am to 3 pm.

Moanalua, He Wahi Pana…Moanalua, A Sacred Place, the 38th Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival will be expanded to two days — Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — announced Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF), the festival’s presenter. The largest non-competitive hula event in Hawai‘i, the festival is held at spectacular Moanalua Gardens each year to honor Prince Lot Kapuāiwa who reprised the once forbidden hula in the district of Moanalua

An historic and cultural treasure, Moanalua Gardens is one of the most beautiful places in Honolulu on the island of O`ahu. Once a botanical garden, it is home to famous structures and rare trees, including the famous “Hitachi” tree.

“We are very pleased to see how much the festival is enjoyed by both kama`āina and malihini,” said Alika Jamile, MGF Executive Director and President. “With encouragement from kumu hula and supporters, we are adding another day of great hula to include dancers from out-of-state branches of Hawaii-based halau. We will have some new activities this year which we will announce at a later date,” he stated.

Opening the 2015 festival will be an impressive line-up of premier hālau hula(hula groups) who will perform both kāhiko (ancient) and ‘auana (contemporary) hula. Dancers will perform on one of the few remaining pā hula (hula mounds) in Hawai`i.

Local food and refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day. Limited edition tee shirts and a souvenir button will be on sale. Proceeds from these merchandise sales will help cover the costs of the festival.

There is no charge to attend the festival, however, a button donation to MGF is requested to raise funds to support the event.

The public, and visitors, are welcome and encouraged to bring their beach chairs and mats and enjoy the fun, food and festivities under the shady monkeypod trees of Moanalua Gardens. No commercial photography is allowed.

Festival sponsors and supporters include the Hawaii Tourism Authority, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Electric, the City and County of Honolulu, the National Endowment for the Arts, Hawaiian Airlines, Servco and RM Towill Foundations, Pasha Hawai‘i, Matson Navigation, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau, O‘ahu Visitors Bureau, the Honolulu Star Advertiser, MidWeek, ‘Ōlelo Community Media and others.

Named in memory of Prince Lot, who later reigned as King Kamehameha V, the festival was founded in 1978 by MGF and now attracts up to 13,000 residents and visitors each year. Moanalua was a favorite recreation spot for Prince Lot, who is credited with reviving the hula in the district of Moanalua. His summer cottage can be found on the gardens’ grounds.

Participating hālau and a festival performance schedule will be announced at a later date. For more information about MGF, please visit MGF’s website at www.moanaluagardensfoundation.org or call 808.839.5334.

A non-profit organization founded in 1970, Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF) is committed to preserving and perpetuating the native culture, environment, and people of Hawai’i through education, celebration and stewardship of Kamananui Valley and Moanalua Gardens. MGF depends upon grants and donations to cover festival costs.

MOANALUA CURRICULUM WORKSHOPS! The Aloha ʻĀina Moanalua curriculum is now available for schools wanting to explore the Moanalua ahupuaʻa. The grade 4 unit includes a Moanalua ahupuaʻa map, old photographs of the area, and lesson[...]